Stage site for the 5th time
Town in the department of Côtes-d'Armor (22)
Population: 2,500 in Guerlédan (Mûrois or St-Guennains)
Personalities: Jean Baptiste Camille Corot (1796-1875, father of Impressionism), Christophe Le Fur (Michelin-starred chef, l'Auberge Grand'Maison)
Specialities: Crêpes and galettes (including mashed potato galettes), scallops from the Bay of Saint-Brieuc.
Sport: Guerlédan canoe-kayak club (with members of the French national team), ACL bicycle club (cyclo).
Events: Trail de Guerlédan (May), Juin à Guerlédan (national adapted sports games), International benjamins football tournament (largest tournament in France in the U13 category), Raid de Guerlédan (September).
Festivals: Fête du Lac de Guerlédan (15 August, flea market, hiking, water sports, fest-noz, fireworks on the lake, etc.), Foire Biozone (September, regional organic fair)
Economy: shops, crafts, livestock (poultry), tourism (Lac de Guerlédan, Quénécan forest)
Nickname: The Breton Alpe d'Huez
Websites/ Social networks: www.mairieguerledan.bzh / www.bretagnecentre.bzh / www.lacdeguerledan.com / www.bretagnecentre.bzh / www.cotesdarmor.fr / www.bretagne.bzh
MÛR-DE-BRETAGNE AND CYCLING
Within a decade, Côte de Mûr or Côte de Menez-Hiez has established itself as a Tour de France classic and confirmed its nickname of the "Breton Alpe d'Huez". The last finish, in 2021, completed this status thanks to Mathieu Van der Poel's masterstroke, when he won his first stage in the Tour and donned the Yellow Jersey that his grandfather, the recently deceased Raymond Poulidor, had never been able to wear. An emotional moment.
Since 2011 and the prophetic win of Cadel Evans that heralded his final victory in this edition, the Tour has returned to Mûr to crown strong finishers such as Alexis Vuillermoz (2015) and Dan Martin (2018). However, it was during its first appearance in the Tour, in 1947, that Côte de Mûr acquired its reputation: René Vietto suffered a terrible breakdown there during the longest time trial in the history of the Grande Boucle between Vannes and Saint-Brieuc (139km) and lost his Yellow Jersey as well as that edition, which was eventually won by Jean Robic.
It has subsequently seen some of the greatest climbers shine on it, including Lucien Van Impe, the title holder at the time, who came first at the top of it in 1977.
SIGHTS
Lake Guerlédan
Located at the foot of Mûr-de-Bretagne, Lac de Guerlédan is the largest lake in Brittany, stretching over 13 km (around 300 ha). Entirely artificial, it came into being at the beginning of the 20th century with the construction of a hydroelectric dam at Mûr de Bretagne, on the course of the river Blavet, to which Guerlédan refers, meaning "wide stream". The power plant was the first in France to produce electricity. Still in operation today, the dam required a technical examination and renovation work in 2015, which meant that the lake had to be drained completely. The Tour de France was passing through that year, and spectators were able to take advantage of the tours organised at the bottom of the lake. Lac de Guerlédan forms part of the boundary between Morbihan and Côtes-d'Armor.
July 2025 will see the opening of a 275-metre Himalayan footbridge, the longest in France, spanning the lake a dozen metres above the water.
Nantes to Brest Canal
Built: 1806
History and characteristics: built in 1806 on a decision by Napoleon to open up central Brittany and link the major Breton ports without going by sea, the Nantes-Brest canal and its 119 locks took 34 years to build. Lined with magnificent towpaths, the canal is very popular with hikers, anglers and canoeists. In Côtes d'Armor, the 42 km of towpaths form an integral part of the Vélodyssée, the long cycle route from southern England to Hendaye.
Guerlédan mountain bike station
Created by the department, the open-air base offers introductory courses in outdoor activities for all ages: sailing, canoeing-kayaking, climbing, mountain biking, orienteering and more. There is also a mountain-biking station with 12 circuits of varying levels (300 km) and a wide range of services (bike hire, equipment cleaning, support from professional instructors, etc.).
www.base-plein-air-guerledan.com
Bon Repos Abbey (Bon-Repos-sur-Blavet)
Built: 1184.
History and characteristics: the Cistercian abbey of Bon Repos was founded by Alan III of Rohan. The viscount entrusted the Cistercian monks with the task of establishing a vast agricultural estate on the site. Sold as national property during the French Revolution, it was later used as a textile factory, a refuge for the Chouans and as quarters for workers on the Nantes-Brest canal, before falling into disuse. In 1986, the Association des Compagnons de Bon Repos launched a major restoration project.
Current use: the renovation of the cloister and the 18th-century building have enabled the abbey to welcome new visitors (contemporary art exhibitions, sound and light shows every summer).
Listed as: historical monument in 1940.
Woods and forests, playgrounds for walkers
A land of water, woods and forests, the area around Guerlédan offers some remarkable, unspoilt natural spaces: Cornec, Caurel and Kériven woods, the Quénécan forest, the Liscuis, Lan Bern and Magoar moors, the Poulancre valley and the Hilvern ditch. A wide range of walking opportunities, in the heart of a veritable "green lung" and in immediate contact with a rich biodiversity.
Sainte-Suzanne chapel
Built in 1496.
History and characteristics: the Sainte-Suzanne chapel features magnificent painted panelling and other 18th-century paintings. The building and the tall oak trees that surround it were immortalised by painter Jean-Baptiste Corot, the father of Impressionism, notably in the painting Une grille ombragée par de grands arbres (A gate shaded by tall trees), on display at the Louvre.
Trivia: in 2018, it was selected for the Heritage Lotto organised by TV anchorman Stéphane Bern and made it onto the second list.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1952.
TO EAT :
Galettes with mashed potatoes
The recipe comes from Pontivy, but the 16 km separating the two towns means that Mûr-de-Bretagne can lay claim to this mashed potato galette, which is a speciality of central Morbihan. It's a galette like any other, which once cooked can be decorated to taste with sausage, bacon, andouille sausage or salmon, the only difference being that the classic galette dough (flour, salt and water) is mixed with mashed potatoes. The result is a dough that is more compact, more nourishing and less light, but that's what makes it so charming.
